Issued: 7:49 AM PST Tuesday, January 16, 2018
by Robert Hahn

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Weather Synopsis for Tuesday & Tuesday

A shortwave trough follows in the wake of a weakening cold front, bringing moist SW flow, narrow bands of light to moderate rain, and a cooler air mass to our region on Tuesday. The trough will lift north during the day on Tuesday, cutting off moisture from south to north. Showers will linger in the Olympics and NW Cascades through the afternoon and evening hours.

Meanwhile, a very deep upper trough and low pressure is heading toward the central coast of British Columbia on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday night will feature a break in the action and light SE winds ahead of this storm system.

On Wednesday, the warm front will lift northward, bringing light precipitation, but a big warm-up during the morning hours. Wednesday afternoon the frontal rain band will move over the Olympics and progresses eastward across the Cascades during the late evening hours bringing moderate to heavy rain to most areas with high elevation snow. Areas exposed to southerly winds will receive moderate to strong crest-level winds prior to frontal passage in the Cascades around midnight. Moderate SW flow follows the frontal passage.

 

 

Weather Forecast

Olympics
Tuesday Light rain and snow showers.
Tuesday Night Fair with high clouds increasing.
Wednesday Light rain and snow developing, becoming light to moderate in the afternoon.
Washington Cascades near and west of the Crest including Stevens, Snoqualmie and White Passes
Tuesday Light to occasional moderate rain and snow showers. Heaviest and most sustained Mt. Baker area. Showers retreating from south to north during the day with skies becoming mostly cloudy in the south in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Light rain and snow showers ending in the evening hours in the north. Low clouds lingering in the evening hours, becoming mostly clear after midnight.
Wednesday Light rain and snow developing, mainly from Mt. Rainier northward. The light rain and snow lingers in the north in the afternoon while the south sees mostly cloudy skies. Another round of rain and snow arrives very late in the day.
East Slopes of the Washington Cascades
Tuesday Light rain and snow showers. Ending from south to north in the afternoon. Skies becoming partly sunny in the south in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy in the evening hours, becoming mostly clear after midnight.
Wednesday Light rain and snow developing in the central and northern parts during the mid-day hours. Otherwise, mostly cloudy.
Mt. Hood
Tuesday Light rain and snow showers in the morning.
Tuesday Night Mostly clear with increasing high clouds after midnight.
Wednesday Mostly cloudy.

Snow/Freezing Level (ft)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Washington Pass Leavenworth Stevens Pass Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier, Crystal & White Pass Mt. Hood
Tuesday Morning Snow Level * 4000' 4000' 4000' ' ' 4000' ' 4000'
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level * 3500' 3500' 3500' ' ' 4000' ' 4500'
Tuesday Night Snow Level * 4500' 3000' 2000' ' ' 3000' ' 5000'
Wednesday Morning Snow Level * 8000' 4500' 3000' ' ' 6000' ' 8000'
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level * 6000' 6000' 4000' ' ' 6000' ' 8000'
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Washington Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
2000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
3500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Leavenworth Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Stevens Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
3000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
6000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Rainier & Crystal Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
'
(Easterly Flow *)
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning Snow Level
4000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Afternoon Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)
Tuesday Night Snow Level
5000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Morning Snow Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Afternoon Snow Level
8000'
(Easterly Flow *)
Wednesday Night Snow Level
4500'
(Easterly Flow *)

* Easterly flow in the Cascade Passes can cause locally lower Snow or Freezing levels than areas further west.
Freezing Level is when no precipitation is forecast.

Precipitation Forecast

Tuesday Tuesday
Hurricane Ridge LT 0.10 1.00 - 1.50
Mt Baker Ski Area 0 - 0.75 2.00 - 2.50
Washington Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0 - 0.75
Stevens Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0 - 0.50
Snoqualmie Pass 0.25 - 0.50 0.75 - 1.00
Mission Ridge LT 0.25 0.25 - 0.50
Crystal Mt LT 0.10 0 - 1.00
Paradise LT 0.25 0 - 1.50
White Pass LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75
Mt Hood Meadows LT 0.10 0.50 - 0.75
LT 0.10 0 - 0.75

Free Winds at 5000' (mph)

Hurricane Ridge Mt. Baker Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Tuesday Morning S 15 - 25 SSW 25 - 35 SW 10 - 20 --- - SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25 S 20 - 30 SW 10 - 20 --- - SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SE 5 - 15 SSE 5 - 15 ESE 5 - 15 --- - SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning S 30 - 40 SE 25 - 35 ESE 20 - 30 --- - S 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon S 30 - 40 SE 25 - 35 ESE 20 - 30 --- - S 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Elevation
Tuesday Morning S 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SE 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning S 30 - 40
Wednesday Afternoon S 30 - 40
Wednesday Night SSW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Elevation
Tuesday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Tuesday Night SSE 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning SE 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon SE 25 - 35
Wednesday Night S 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Elevation
Tuesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night ESE 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 20 - 30
Wednesday Night SW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Elevation
Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Elevation
Tuesday Morning SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning S 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Wednesday Night WSW 20 - 30
Hurricane Ridge Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning S 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon SW 15 - 25
Tuesday Night SE 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning S 30 - 40
Wednesday Afternoon S 30 - 40
Wednesday Night SSW 25 - 35
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Tuesday Night SSE 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning SE 25 - 35
Wednesday Afternoon SE 25 - 35
Wednesday Night S 20 - 30
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night ESE 5 - 15
Wednesday Morning ESE 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon ESE 20 - 30
Wednesday Night SW 20 - 30
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SW 20 - 30
Tuesday Afternoon SW 10 - 20
Tuesday Night SE 10 - 20
Wednesday Morning S 20 - 30
Wednesday Afternoon S 20 - 30
Wednesday Night WSW 20 - 30

Directions above indicate the direction the wind blows from on the 16-point cardinal scale. These winds indicate "free" winds, or those winds in the atmosphere not influenced by terrain. Topographical effects may produce greater or lower wind speeds in certain locations as well as significant variations in direction.

Free Winds at 9000' (mph)

Mt. Baker Washington Pass Stevens to Snoqualmie Pass Mt. Rainier Mt. Hood
Tuesday Morning SSW 30 - 40 SSW 15 - 25 SSW 25 - 35 --- - SSW 35 - 50
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 25 - 35 SSW 30 - 40 SW 30 - 40 --- - WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Night SW 30 - 40 SW 20 - 30 SW 30 - 40 --- - SW 30 - 40
Wednesday Morning SSW 40 - 60 SSW 40 - 60 SSW 40 - 60 --- - SSW 40 - 60
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 60 - 80 SSW 50 - 70 SSW 65 - 85 --- - SSW 60 - 80
Mt. Baker Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Night SW 30 - 40
Wednesday Morning SSW 40 - 60
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 60 - 80
Wednesday Night SW 40 - 60
Washington Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SSW 15 - 25
Tuesday Afternoon SSW 30 - 40
Tuesday Night SW 20 - 30
Wednesday Morning SSW 40 - 60
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 50 - 70
Wednesday Night SW 40 - 60
Stevens and Snoqualmie Pass Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Afternoon SW 30 - 40
Tuesday Night SW 30 - 40
Wednesday Morning SSW 40 - 60
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 65 - 85
Wednesday Night SW 40 - 60
Mt. Rainier Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning --- -
Tuesday Afternoon --- -
Tuesday Night --- -
Wednesday Morning --- -
Wednesday Afternoon --- -
Wednesday Night --- -
Mt. Hood Direction - Speed
Tuesday Morning SSW 35 - 50
Tuesday Afternoon WSW 25 - 35
Tuesday Night SW 30 - 40
Wednesday Morning SSW 40 - 60
Wednesday Afternoon SSW 60 - 80
Wednesday Night SW 50 - 70

Directions above indicate the direction the wind blows from on the 16-point cardinal scale. These winds indicate "free" winds, or those winds in the atmosphere not influenced by terrain. Topographical effects may produce greater or lower wind speeds in certain locations as well as significant variations in direction.

Jump to: Weather Forecast I Snow/Freezing Level I Precipitation I Free Winds 5k I Free Winds 9k

Previous forecast from Jan 15, 2018

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